Posted on 04/15/2009 6:25:52 PM PDT by MAD-AS-HELL
In the face of a growing number of deaths and cases of HIV linked to drug abuse, the Portuguese government in 2001 tried a new tack to get a handle on the problem—it decriminalized the use and possession of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, LSD and other illicit street drugs. The theory: focusing on treatment and prevention instead of jailing users would decrease the number of deaths and infections.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciam.com ...
“Take the big cash profits out of it and it would be like monopoly money. Worthless.”
Exactly, we spend billions trying to stop it and then billions more locking up people who’s only crime is doing something to hurt themselves. On top of everything else, we create a whole underworld of criminals who will kill to protect their market share.
Vodka and amanita muscaria probably serve most Swedish needs.
Those who like to complain about the state stores in PA have never dealt with the state stores in Sweden.
You guys are nuts ~ criminals are criminals. If they can’t make money on dope they’ll make money on some other crime. It’s not like they’ll be saying “gee whiz, treatment is here so we will no longer lead a life of crime”.
Country Mean IQ
Holland 109.4
Germany 109.3
Poland 108.3
Sweden 105.8
Yugoslavia 105.7
Italy 103.8
Austria 103.5
Switzerland 102.8
Portugal 102.6
Great Britain 102.0
Norway 101.8
Denmark 100.7
Hungary 100.5
Czech Rep 100.4
Spain 100.3
Belgium 99.7
Greece 99.4
Ireland 99.2
Finland 98.1
Bulgaria 96.3
France 96.1
From V. Buj, Person. & Individ. Diff., Vol. 2, pp. 168 to 169, 1981
Subjects >16 yrs. old tested on the Cattell Culture Fair Test 3 (16 SD), standardized in the USA (IQ=100).
“It’s not like they’ll be saying “gee whiz, treatment is here so we will no longer lead a life of crime”.
Prohibition gave rise to huge crime syndicates. The temptation for easy and huge amounts of money has drawn people into the drug trade that otherwise might not have become more than petty thieves. The income source for virtually all the powerful gangs in the country is drugs. Take away the drugs and you take away a lot of their power. What other crime would give them such a huge return on their criminal activity?
Wine, beer, schnaps, Absolut.
That’s about it.
I think your post about sums it up.
But, after a career of professional contact with addicts and systems, I'd have to judge that you are, as I was, in error.
Only a small portion of addicts will be helped by rehab. Some, for a short time. Most look at your current POV, smile, and say "SUCKAHHH"!
It's a most perverse incentive...that 'help'.
There's a lot to be said about allowing one to hit a bottom. Feelgood 'help' programs arrest development of character necessary to overcome senseless self-injury. 'Help' rewards the bad habits.....no more jones?
No more love.
It takes pain and suffering to build determination to fix ones self. No pain...no gain.
Many dope addicts I've been professionally acquainted with count being incarcerated as the blessing they needed to break the habit. And they didn't go there for possession.....breaking, robbery, mayhem, burglary, home-invasion fraud, forgery. You want all of us to pay a ransom into social services so they leave us alone?
No thanks...I'm strictly, and obdurately, Old Testament tough lover.
I count among my acquaintances several formerly hopeless addicts who thank me, whenever they see me, for catching them doing bad things.....and make the case to put them in the sin bin for months or years.
No wonder they won't let me join the DNC.
I could go on about my perception of the Rehabilitation Industry...including candid revelations from kin in the field. "The cure comes when the insurance runs out."
I could be wrong...but I think not.
ps...the crime rate could be reduced a lot, if the courts and judges would stop being so damn nice and helpful to first-time offenders. Jeez, the juvenile court to which I brought cases would only make incarceration a part of any penalty ..only...AFTER THE FIFTH CHARGE for auto theft! By that time, the opportunity to alter behavior is gone. Inured, they become....and then cry creeks of tears when they get seriously whacked after 25 or 30 adjudications of guilt.
I always told my kids that if they got arrested, that they would spend the night or weekend in jail....and that I would urge the judge to inflict a severe penalty. [can't do that anymore..child abuse]. It's like a dog pooping on the floor: y' gotta get their nose in it and holler at 'em real quick......before they can no longer make cognitive connection between bad behavior and the discomfort of penalty. [my kids never had law trouble]
What I would advocate for are shorter, immediate sentences of days or weeks for 1st time misdemeanor offenses like possession. It would have a great impact, I believe.
Broad subject! I'll curtail m'self. That's my 2cent
Call me crazy but I could care less if you get die or contract HIV or any other disease by doing drugs. Waste of taxpayer money to care for these fools.
Ashkenazi Jews have the highest mean IQ score of any ethnic group.
That 'stitch-in-time'...
Good luck trying to discuss the issue with him rationally.
Good indicator of why the median is a better measure of central tendency than the mean.
It was revealed that Finns regularly score far higher than European Jews (at number 2) and the Chinese (at number 3).
BTW, that list was probably worked up by a Dutchman disgruntled with the way he was treated at a French retaurant.
See my note below. The Finns are currently #1 and the Chinese are #3. The Jews are in between at #2. (The news story that precipitated an IQ discussion several months back should still be on the net somewhere).
The problem with what you say is your focusing on the user as the victim. They’re not. The people they rob and kill to obtain drugs are the victims. You take the money out of the drugs and the victims who are abused by drug users and dealers comes to a stop. What your wanting to do will just continue what has been going on for years.
See #25. I KNEW my people were smarter than the Brits and the Harps...
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